“Forget it.” Nicolas turned down his second son’s offer crudely as he walked toward the dining hall. “Let’s eat first.”
Nathaniel did not seem even a little disturbed by his father’s attitude. He shrugged his shoulders and followed after the older man. He must have gotten used to Nicolas’ behavior.
I looked at them begrudgingly, wondering how everyone would dine together with this thick tension going on.
Anthony had already calmed himself down when he clasped my hand and pulled me over to the dining room.
The chemistry around the table was awkward beyond measure. Nicolas sat at the host’s seat with his emotionless face while Simone asked the servants to set up the table with a small smile on her face, giving me the impression that she was forcing it.
I stole a look at Anthony, but he did not return my gaze. Instead, he tapped the back of my hand lightly, signaling me to relax.
After some time, Nicolas finally gestured for everyone to start dining.
Nicolas placed a piece of cut steak in his mouth the moment the food was served. Everyone else began digging in at his command without any intention of striking a conversation.
Halfway through the meal, Simone suddenly lifted her head and looked at me with a smile. “Letty, I made you soup earlier on. It will help you strengthen your body. Let me go get it for you.”
Although she was smiling, I was sure she was just putting up a front.
I quickly got to my feet upon seeing Simone getting up. “It’s okay, Mom. I’ll help myself.”
Although I doubted her sincerity, she was still Anthony’s mother. I knew better than to let her get the soup on my behalf.
I followed her over into the kitchen and saw her turn off the stove. She grabbed a ladle and poured me a bowl of soup carefully. Her hands moved adroitly as she worked, and I could not help but think she must be a good cook herself.
I noticed her fit figure as she bustled about in her kitchen. It must not be easy to maintain such a body at her age.
I walked over to get the bowl of soup from her, but she dodged my hand and put the bowl on the kitchen table forcefully instead.
My hand froze in the air before I realized the smile on her face had long faded away. She looked cold and cruel now.
Although such a change was not totally unexpected, the speed at which her expression changed still caught me by surprise.
“Since it already spilled, I guess I won’t get to try it anymore,” I said, turning to leave.
“What’s the rush? There’s still some soup left. I spent a long time preparing it. You should really try,” her dry voice rang behind me immediately.
Her lofty tone made her live up to her name of a true Hall.
“Let’s cut straight to the point. There’s no use wasting time here. Anthony is a smart man. He will know something’s going on. I know you’re just trying to leave a good impression on him by being nice to me out there. If you don’t want him to be suspicious of you, you’d better cut to the chase with whatever it is you want to tell me. Out with it now.”
It was at this moment that I thought Simone must have had a hand in poisoning me.
“I admire your honesty, and I guess I could say you have some brains too. Perhaps that’s why Anthony likes you, but don’t expect the Hall family to treat you like he does. Since you’re already here, you’d better follow our house rules and behave properly.”
Simone came from a good family. She was an amiable person before the accident, but it seemed like I had got ahead of myself. I thought too highly of her.
After all, she had spent such a long time with Nicolas. There was no way she would stay the same woman.
I glared at her coldly for a few seconds before talking. For a split moment, I felt a surge of pity for her. “You must really miss your son after such a long time, but sadly, there’s nothing you can do because there’s no way Nicolas will let you keep in touch with someone he loathes. You did nothing to save your own son when he planned the accident. But look at you now. You’re pretending like you’re his mother when he comes back after all these years. You have no moral ground to lecture the person he loves the most. Do you think this is how you show your love for him? Or do you think this will appease the guilt in your heart?”
I could roughly understand how Simone felt as the words tumbled out of my mouth. I took up the half- filled bowl as I looked at her from the corner of my eyes. “All you can see is me being domineering toward Anthony, but have you ever thought that his heart is bleeding because of you? I might not be the best wife for him in your eyes, but at least I won’t ever leave him to suffer alone.”
A smirk curved on my lips as I turned to leave with the bowl of soup in my hand. But just as I was going out of the kitchen, I bumped into Anthony.
“Why are you here?” I asked.
Anthony blocked the kitchen entrance and glanced at Simone before looking at me. “What took you so long?” he uttered softly.
“We got carried away talking with one another. You have nothing to worry about. It’s not like I’ll do anything to her,” Simone interrupted with a bitter smile on her face.
Women had their own struggles when transitioning from being mothers to mothers-in-law. It was understandable that they might feel jealous because they thought they lost their sons to their sons’ wives.
“It’s difficult to say you won’t do anything to her,” Anthony said reproachfully, not bothering to try treating his mother nicely.
“How could you…” Simone’s sad voice almost broke when she heard him.
“I’m fine, really,” I stated clearly before pulling Anthony out of the kitchen. I did not want to be the catalyst that made their relationship go downhill.
Not long after we walked out, we saw the maid leading Bill into the house through the front door. Behind him stood a spectacled young man dressed in formal wear. I trailed Anthony’s gaze and took a closer look at the new guest. We both stiffly froze the moment it clicked.
Armond was here.
Armond felt our burning gazes and looked up without shying away. A sly smile played on his lips, sending a shiver down my spine.
Bill entered the dining hall and greeted Nicolas courteously, “Mr. Hall, I’ve brought the man here.”
Everyone around the table put down their cutlery at the announcement of a guest. Simone had just gotten out of the kitchen as well. She had her hair tied up and looked all freshened up like an elegant lady after the little brush we had back in the kitchen.
Nicolas nodded without haste and looked at the man behind Bill. “So… you’re Armond?”
“Yes. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Hall.” Armond bowed like a gentleman, but I could still spot a glint of sinister spite in his eyes through his glasses.
“I’ve looked at the research project you oversaw in M Country. Everything was very well done, so keep up the good work. Mr. Young will surely continue supporting you if you do,” Nicolas said disinterestedly.
“That’s very kind of you, Mr. Hall. I will do my best to make sure you and Mr. Young see good results,” Armond replied with a smile.
“Take your time,” Nicolas said, waving his hand dismissively. “I’m a businessman. I’m only interested in maximizing the profit of my investment, so you should probably focus on making my investment worth it and stop things difficult for Anthony and his family.”
It seemed like what Tiffany said was true. Nicolas was really putting an end to all this and letting Anthony go.
Nicolas’ words struck Armond like a lightning bolt. The smile on his face became rigid and unnatural. He probably did not know the relationship between the father and son yet. “What’s with the sudden change? We’ve been working together really well all this while. It won’t take long before we can take Anthony down.”
“That’s enough,” Nicolas cut him short, his face darkening. “Didn’t Mr. Young teach you that it’s impolite to ask too many questions? The Hall family didn’t give you the money and status you enjoy right now for you to create trouble. Do I have to discuss and explain my decisions to you right now?”
A scowl spread across Armond’s face as he squinted his eyes at Anthony and I. “So you’re expecting me to put aside our grievances and work together with him under you?”
I gulped a mouthful of cold air at Armond’s sharp words.
If Nicolas were an imposing tiger, then Armond would be a venomous snake. You would never know when he would decide to strike you.
Even Anthony and I knew better than to not distance ourselves from him no matter what.
Surprisingly, Nicolas did not disagree with the statement. “This matter does not concern you,” he stated blankly. After a period of silence, he opened his mouth once more. “See the guest out.”
“Right away, Mr. Hall.”
Just as Armond was about to disagree with Nicolas, Bill interjected. With that said, the man turned and left with Armond without giving the latter a chance to speak.
Although Armond was discontented with the arrangement, openly challenging Nicolas wasn’t an option, so he left the estate reluctantly.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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